The Hornet's Nest
Originally posted on March 15, 2005
I used to enjoy putting sticks in virtual hornet's nests. I had a shirt that said "Spotted Owl Tastes Like Chicken!" I went to the Mondale rally with my Reagan signs and proudly displayed my new shiner for all to see. I took one for the Gipper! I spent a lot of time in trouble because I believed my job in the Navy was telling my superiors exactly how I felt in certain situations. They called it disrespect. I somehow never made it before the Captain. I don't know why...
But for some reason, I balked at writing this. It's weighed heavy on my mind for several years, but I've never had the nerve to finally put it down. It springs from my own jaded past, as well as those around me. Are we, as forgiving Christians, to tolerate or accept those around us? Or are we supposed to (as we've been taught by so many through the years) get in the faces of those we have personally condemned as sinners?
I grew up in the church. There was always a small spark of the Spirit in my heart. When I was drunk at topless bars, I'd tell people I was a Christian -- heedless of the damage my witness was causing to the body of Christ.
I have joked that I was out partying on Saturday night, and standing, hungover, in the choir loft on Sunday morning. I don't know how many of those around me knew of my double-life. From what I've seen in others' lives, likely a lot of people knew it but wouldn't say anything. Had they said something, perhaps the next ten years would have been different.
Let me say that I believe God differentiates between sinners and sin. We are sinners, condemned by our sin. God hates sin. God loves sinners. God gave His son that we might be free from sin. God wants us to be without sin. God does not condemn us if we ask Him to forgive us. Therefore, he loves us even though we are sinners. If God differentiates between sinners and sin, what right do we have to link the two? The following questions do not deal with the issue of sin, rather the person who is trapped in that sin.
Question 1: Should we "get in the faces" of those we believe are condemned as sinners? The answer is NO! We, too, are sinners. We have no right to condemn another for their sin. As Christians, we are forgiven for our sins. Our record is wiped clean. But we should not forget from whence we came. The Apostle Paul remembered his past, even when he was in prison for preaching Christ.
When the people brought to Jesus a woman caught in adultery, Jesus did not judge her for her actions. He did not condemn her as a sinner. Rather, he called into question the hearts of those who had condemned her. Beating someone over the head with a Bible will only drive them away. I've seen it happen. It happened to me.
Question 2: Should we tolerate or accept sinners? By all means, YES!
Should we tolerate or accept sin? That's a little more tricky. Given the definitions of tolerate and accept, I believe it is two questions:
Question 2a: Should we tolerate sin?
Question 2b: Should we accept sin?
I believe toleration says we should ignore sin while we teach the sinner about Christ. Once they accept Christ, we work with the new family member to help them overcome their sin. It's imperative! We cannot deal with the extensions until we deal with the problem. People will sin. It started in the Garden. If we try to change someone without convincing them why they should change, they will not change.
If a doctor says, "You need to take this medicine. It will make you very sick. It may even kill you." Will you take the medicine? I hope you wouldn't take it given what you were told. Now, if the doctor says, "You have hepatitis-B. It's dormant, but it will raise it's ugly head at some point. When it does, you will be hospital-bound for at least a week. During that week, we will treat the disease with interferon - a medication that will make you even sicker, perhaps even kill you. But, if we don't treat it, the disease will kill you." Will you take the medicine? Maybe, now that you have more information, you can make a better decision.
The same thing happens with non-believers and sin. You want to take away the things they enjoy? You want to take away free sex and drunkenness? You want to take away drugs and spiritual anarchy? You may as well kill them. What good is life without those things? First, make them believe that life with Christ is better than a life in sin. That's a hard sell. Once Christ has convinced them, whether through you or someone else, then the Holy Spirit can begin to work on their sinful nature.
I've heard many people quote the Apostle Paul when he says, as the NIV titles the section, 'Expel the Immoral Brother!' How many have read the follow-up in 2 Corinthians? Paul states very clearly that we should forgive and welcome those among us who are suffering from sin. I admit that I have blindly followed the teaching from 1 Corinthians without looking further.
Question 2b: If we accept sin, we are simply telling people that there is no problem with their lifestyle and there is no reason to change. We are telling people that they have no need for Christ. We are missing the Great Commission.
I ask that you consider what I have said. Think about it. Pray about what you have read. Let me know what you think.
Dear Heavenly Father, you have created your people to serve you. Only through you can we become like you. We desire to be holy -- like you.
Father, we know people who are overwhelmed by sin. We know people who do not know you. We know people who need your help. They may be our spouses, our brothers, our sisters, our friends, our co-workers, our neighbors. Help us to shine your light that they may see it. Help us to introduce these people to you. Help us to demonstrate through our lives that life with Christ is much better than life without. With Christ, we are more like you.
We also acknowledge that we are often guilty of shunning these people without giving them a chance to know you. Work in our lives to be more forgiving, as you require. Work with us to help us be more like you.
Thank you for being in our lives. Thank you for being our salvation. Thank you for taking over all that we do. Thank you for helping us be more like you.
In Jesus' Holy Name we pray,
Amen.
I used to enjoy putting sticks in virtual hornet's nests. I had a shirt that said "Spotted Owl Tastes Like Chicken!" I went to the Mondale rally with my Reagan signs and proudly displayed my new shiner for all to see. I took one for the Gipper! I spent a lot of time in trouble because I believed my job in the Navy was telling my superiors exactly how I felt in certain situations. They called it disrespect. I somehow never made it before the Captain. I don't know why...
But for some reason, I balked at writing this. It's weighed heavy on my mind for several years, but I've never had the nerve to finally put it down. It springs from my own jaded past, as well as those around me. Are we, as forgiving Christians, to tolerate or accept those around us? Or are we supposed to (as we've been taught by so many through the years) get in the faces of those we have personally condemned as sinners?
I grew up in the church. There was always a small spark of the Spirit in my heart. When I was drunk at topless bars, I'd tell people I was a Christian -- heedless of the damage my witness was causing to the body of Christ.
I have joked that I was out partying on Saturday night, and standing, hungover, in the choir loft on Sunday morning. I don't know how many of those around me knew of my double-life. From what I've seen in others' lives, likely a lot of people knew it but wouldn't say anything. Had they said something, perhaps the next ten years would have been different.
Let me say that I believe God differentiates between sinners and sin. We are sinners, condemned by our sin. God hates sin. God loves sinners. God gave His son that we might be free from sin. God wants us to be without sin. God does not condemn us if we ask Him to forgive us. Therefore, he loves us even though we are sinners. If God differentiates between sinners and sin, what right do we have to link the two? The following questions do not deal with the issue of sin, rather the person who is trapped in that sin.
Question 1: Should we "get in the faces" of those we believe are condemned as sinners? The answer is NO! We, too, are sinners. We have no right to condemn another for their sin. As Christians, we are forgiven for our sins. Our record is wiped clean. But we should not forget from whence we came. The Apostle Paul remembered his past, even when he was in prison for preaching Christ.
When the people brought to Jesus a woman caught in adultery, Jesus did not judge her for her actions. He did not condemn her as a sinner. Rather, he called into question the hearts of those who had condemned her. Beating someone over the head with a Bible will only drive them away. I've seen it happen. It happened to me.
Question 2: Should we tolerate or accept sinners? By all means, YES!
Should we tolerate or accept sin? That's a little more tricky. Given the definitions of tolerate and accept, I believe it is two questions:
Question 2a: Should we tolerate sin?
Question 2b: Should we accept sin?
I believe toleration says we should ignore sin while we teach the sinner about Christ. Once they accept Christ, we work with the new family member to help them overcome their sin. It's imperative! We cannot deal with the extensions until we deal with the problem. People will sin. It started in the Garden. If we try to change someone without convincing them why they should change, they will not change.
If a doctor says, "You need to take this medicine. It will make you very sick. It may even kill you." Will you take the medicine? I hope you wouldn't take it given what you were told. Now, if the doctor says, "You have hepatitis-B. It's dormant, but it will raise it's ugly head at some point. When it does, you will be hospital-bound for at least a week. During that week, we will treat the disease with interferon - a medication that will make you even sicker, perhaps even kill you. But, if we don't treat it, the disease will kill you." Will you take the medicine? Maybe, now that you have more information, you can make a better decision.
The same thing happens with non-believers and sin. You want to take away the things they enjoy? You want to take away free sex and drunkenness? You want to take away drugs and spiritual anarchy? You may as well kill them. What good is life without those things? First, make them believe that life with Christ is better than a life in sin. That's a hard sell. Once Christ has convinced them, whether through you or someone else, then the Holy Spirit can begin to work on their sinful nature.
I've heard many people quote the Apostle Paul when he says, as the NIV titles the section, 'Expel the Immoral Brother!' How many have read the follow-up in 2 Corinthians? Paul states very clearly that we should forgive and welcome those among us who are suffering from sin. I admit that I have blindly followed the teaching from 1 Corinthians without looking further.
Question 2b: If we accept sin, we are simply telling people that there is no problem with their lifestyle and there is no reason to change. We are telling people that they have no need for Christ. We are missing the Great Commission.
I ask that you consider what I have said. Think about it. Pray about what you have read. Let me know what you think.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, you have created your people to serve you. Only through you can we become like you. We desire to be holy -- like you.
Father, we know people who are overwhelmed by sin. We know people who do not know you. We know people who need your help. They may be our spouses, our brothers, our sisters, our friends, our co-workers, our neighbors. Help us to shine your light that they may see it. Help us to introduce these people to you. Help us to demonstrate through our lives that life with Christ is much better than life without. With Christ, we are more like you.
We also acknowledge that we are often guilty of shunning these people without giving them a chance to know you. Work in our lives to be more forgiving, as you require. Work with us to help us be more like you.
Thank you for being in our lives. Thank you for being our salvation. Thank you for taking over all that we do. Thank you for helping us be more like you.
In Jesus' Holy Name we pray,
Amen.
posted by ClayMan at 11:38 AM
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